Jack Schlossberg’s faith

View online.

Faith is an integral part of millions of Americans' daily lives. "One Nation Under God" is committed to reflecting America's voices, values and communities covering stories of faith and religion, from the latest headlines to stories of hope. Check out the latest 'One Nation Under God' videos on NewsNation's YouTube.

What is Jack Schlossberg's religious background?

Jack Schlossberg, who announced last week he will be running in New York's 12th Congressional District, is best known as the only grandson of former president John F. Kennedy, America's first Catholic president. But Schlossberg appears to have grown up both Catholic and Jewish due to his parents' interfaith marriage.

Jack's mother is Caroline Kennedy, JFK's eldest and only surviving child. She married Edwin Schlossberg, who grew up in an Orthodox Jewish family, in 1986.

The 32-year-old is the third generation in one of America's most prominent political families.

John F. Kennedy was the country's first Catholic president, and his family's Catholic faith was central to his upbringing. Several members of the Kennedy family, including the late Senator Ted Kennedy and former United States Attorney General Robert Kennedy, cited their faith as the impetus for their civil service.

Jack Schlossberg appears to have been raised Catholic

Jack Schlossberg appears to have been raised Catholic in his mother's religious tradition. He has expressed support for Pope Francis, and he has mused about what he is going to give up for Lent online.

But according to Hey Alma, a website dedicated to feminist Jewish culture, Jack Schlossberg identifies as culturally Jewish, although he clarified he is not technically Jewish because his mother is not Jewish.

Jack Schlossberg identifies as culturally Jewish

In a new profile by the New York Times, Schlossberg said, "I'm very sensitive to the Jewish community's concerns, because I feel them, too."

Schlossberg, like many in the Democrat party and in his generation, has expressed concerns about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and Israel's role in it.

"Antisemitism is on the rise in the United States, and I take my Jewish pride very seriously," he told El País. "That said, the images and reports we're hearing from Gaza are distressing."

Schlossberg has not been shy about his feelings about his cousin, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Trump's Health and Human Services Secretary. On the first day of his campaign, Schlossberg called Kennedy a "dangerous person" and a "rabid dog."

Did Pope Leo have lunch with transgender people?

Pope Leo XIV hosted a lunch Sunday for about 1,300 people whom the Vatican called "the poor, displaced, and forgotten."

The luncheon took place after the pontiff celebrated Mass in St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee of the Poor. A jubilee year is a special time of spiritual renewal, forgiveness and pilgrimage in the Catholic Church and is celebrated every 25 years.

"In the midst of persecution, suffering, struggles and oppression in our personal lives and in society, God does not abandon us," the pope said.

Who attended the Vatican lunch?

Among the hundreds of guests seated at tables were migrants and refugees from countries such as Nigeria and Cuba, homeless people, unemployed people and people in need.

According to Catholic News Agency, Father Andrea Conocchia, a parish priest in Torvaianica, Italy, said he had accompanied about 50 transgender people from his community to the event.

The Vatican said the Missionaries of Charity, Mother Teresa's order of nuns, brought mothers from their house on the outskirts of Rome.

All the guests experienced loss in some way or another. Some had lost their jobs or income, the Vatican said.

"We go on – what else can we do?" a woman from Lviv, Ukraine, told Vatican News. "I don't know if I'll ever go home again."

The event is part of a packed agenda for Pope Leo. The day before, he received Spike Lee, Cate Blanchett, and dozens of other Hollywood luminaries to a special Vatican audience celebrating cinema and its ability to inspire and unite.

Tradition established by Pope Francis

Leo's predecessor Pope Francis, who died in April of 2025, established the World Day of the Poor, a day to help Christians "reflect on how poverty is at heart of the Gospel" and to inspire acts of mercy, in 2017. The American pontiff paid Francis homage during the event.

"With great joy we gather this afternoon for this meal on this day that was so dearly desired by my beloved predecessor, Pope Francis," he said. "Let's have a big round of applause for him."

According to the Vatican, the guests gathered in a Vatican hall feasted on vegetable lasagna, chicken cutlets, and a traditional Neapolitan dessert called babà, a spongy cake soaked in rum syrup.

Pope Leo prayed for all those around the world who are suffering.

"Let us also offer the Lord's blessing to the many people who suffer due to violence, war, and hunger," he said.

This newsletter is written by Susie Pinto.

Watch "One Nation Under God" on YouTube

In this exclusive interview, we go behind the scenes of King Charles III's historic visit to the Vatican. It was a moment that brought together the British monarchy and the Catholic Church for a rare prayer service in the Sistine Chapel with Pope Leo XIV, the first American pontiff. Watch >